TESTOSTERONE AND SERUM ZINC LEVELS IN MEN WITH BENIGN PROSTATIC HYPERPLASIA.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a common benign tumour of the prostate that becomes more common as men age. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationships between serum zinc and testosterone in BPH patients in Iraq. This case-control study entailed gathering 90 subjects which were separated into two groups, group A consisted of 60 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia, while group B consisted of 30 healthy males. Diagnosis revealed patient's prostate volumes (PV) were equal to or more than 25 millilitres. Both groups had their serum zinc and serum testosterone levels. The study showed that the mean prostate size was elevated significantly in the BPH group (54.0±8.4cc) as compared with the control group (19.66±2.88cc) (P:0.01). There is a significant reduction in the serum testosterone concentration of benign prostatic hyperplasia patients, (4.05±3.1 ng/ml), as compared with control subjects, (11.37±2.87; p≤0.01). There is a significant reduction in the serum zinc concentration of benign prostatic hyperplasia patients, (70.4±9.63 ng/ml), as compared with control subjects, (99.3±10.5; p≤0.01). The higher percentage of benign prostatic hyperplasia is in patients above 66 years, and the lowest is in the age group 45-55 years. Serum testosterone and zinc are significantly lower in benign prostatic hyperplasia patients than in age-matched healthy controls. All benign prostatic hyperplasia patients have larger prostates than normal healthy control participants of the same BMI. All BMI groups of benign prostatic hyperplasia patients had lower serum testosterone and zinc than normal healthy control persons of the same BMI.

Effect of Synthetic Methodology on the Physicochemical Attributes and Electrocatalytic Activity of NiAl-LDHs for the Oxygen Evolution Reaction.

Layered double hydroxides (LDHs) are promising materials for oxygen evolution reactions (OERs), a key component of water splitting to produce hydrogen and oxygen via water electrolysis. However, the performance of LDHs can be limited by their low surface area and poor accessibility of active sites. In this work, we synthesized highly exfoliated 2D NiAl-LDHs by aqueous miscible solvent treatment method (AMOST) and compared its electrocatalytic efficiency with its analogue synthesised via slow urea hydrolysis. We demonstrate that the exfoliated 2D LDHs prepared by AMOST method have a higher surface area and more active sites than the crystalline LDHs obtained through urea hydrolysis, resulting in a superior OER activity and efficiency. The exfoliated 2D LDHs required a lower overpotential of 280 mV to reach a current density of 50 mA cm-2 and it also outperformed IrO2 , a benchmark OER catalyst, in terms of overpotential and stability. We demonstrate that the physicochemical properties of nanosheets derived from NIAl-LDH-based materials are strongly influenced by the synthetic methodology, which affects the exfoliation degree, surface area and active site density. These factors are crucial for improving the OER catalytic performance of these materials, as shown by our results.

THE ROLE OF MELATONIN AND VITAMIN D IN IRAQI PREMENOPAUSAL WOMEN OSTEOARTHRITIS PATIENTS.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis, affecting 1 in 3 people over age 40 and women more so than men. The prevalence of OA is rising due to the increasing prevalence of OA risk factors, including obesity, physical inactivity, and joint injury. The aim of the study is to determine the correlation of Melatonin, Vitamin D (VitD) with osteoarthritis (OA) in women premenopausal OA women in age between 40-50 years old. The study included 60 patients with OA and 30 patients without OA from the general Balad Hospital in Salah Al-Den governorates. All subjects were premenopausal women between 40-50 years old. OA was diagnosed according to the clinical examination, X-ray diagnosis by Bone mineral density testing using STRATOS device, and biochemical tests using ELISA and COBOS 6000. This study proved that Melatonin is correlated with osteoarthritis in premenopausal women, there is a significant decrease (P≤0.01) in Melatonin (1.308+0.20 pg/dl), Vitamin D (22.82+1.53) mg/ml. Melatonin was positively correlated with vitamin D with no correlation with other biomarkers. Osteoarthritis in premenopausal women is strongly affected by Melatonin levels and Vitamin D, and it's recommended to use Melatonin and other chemical parameters as markers and potential therapeutic drugs.

Antioxidant system of garden cress sprouts for using in bio-monitor of cadmium and lead contamination.

Based on garden cress significantly used for phytoremediation, the antioxidant system included antioxidant-phenolic compounds and antioxidant-enzymes of 6-day-garden cress sprouts (GCS) were assessed as potential bio-indicators for cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) contamination. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents of GCS germinated under Cd and Pb treatments (25-150 mg kg-1) gradually increased with increasing concentration of metals and peaked by 2.0, 2.6, and 2.5, 2.3 folds at 150 mg kg-1, respectively. By using DPPH, ABTS, and PMC antioxidant assays, the total antioxidant activity of phenolic compounds of GCS increased 6.1, 13.0, and 5.8-fold for Cd and 5.9, 14.6, and 8.2-fold for Pb at 150 mg kg-1, respectively. The antioxidant enzymes of GCS (POD, CAT, GR, and GST) were significantly activated in response to Cd and Pb stress, and two new electrophoretic POD bands were detected. GCS was absorbed 19.0% and 21.3% of Cd and Pb at 150 mg metal kg-1, respectively. In conclusion, the approaches of the antioxidant defense system of GSC could potentially be used as bio-indicator for monitoring Cd and Pb contamination in a short time of germination process.

Dose perturbation effects by metal hip prosthesis in gynaecological 192Ir HDR brachytherapy.

The present study was conducted to elucidate the effects of hip prostheses in 192Ir HDR brachytherapy and determine dose uncertainties introduced by the treatment planning. A gynaecological phantom irradiated using Nucletron 192Ir microSelectron HDR source was modeled using MCNP5 code. Three hip materials considered in this study were water, bone, and metal prosthesis. According to the obtained results, a dose perturbation was observed within the medium with a higher atomic number, which reduced the dose to the nearby region.

Decolorization of dye effluents via immobilized glycoprotein peroxidase on post-consumer polystyrene foam.

Development of sustainable approaches to manage industrial wastes such as plastic waste and dye effluents is a major research endeavor, owing to escalating environmental and health concerns arising from discharge of such wastes into water bodies. In this context, this study aims to convert packaging waste of expanded polystyrene foam (EPS) into effective biocatalyst for enzymatic degradation of dye effluent. Briefly, crushed EPS were decorated with amine groups via chlorosulfonation followed by conjugation of branched polyethylenimine. Carbohydrate rich turnip peroxidase (TPOD) was purified to homogeneity from Brassic rapa roots followed by periodate oxidation to introduce reactive dialdehyde groups. Such oxidized TPOD glycoprotein was covalently immobilized on aminated EPS through Schiff base formation. Immobilized TPOD exposed noticeable tolerance toward elevated temperatures (80 °C) that qualifies it as viable biocatalyst for decolorization of dye effluents that is frequently hot. Indeed, immobilized TPOD could successfully decolorize methyl orange (90 %) and crystal violet (96 %) within 2 h. Due to the floating nature of EPS, the immobilized TPOD was simply separated by skimming and reused in fifteen subsequent catalytic cycles. Ultimately, this work demonstrates the conversion of post-consumer EPS into a value-added biocatalyst for the ecofriendly enzymatic treatment of dye effluents.

EVALUATION OF VITAMIN D SERUM LEVELS AND THYROID FUNCTION TEST IN HYPOTHYROIDISM IRAQI PATIENTS.

The role of Vitamin D is primarily to maintain calcium and phosphate levels in the bloodstream. Significantly, steroid hormone receptors are the binding sites for both vitamin D and thyroid hormone. However, the vitamin D and thyroid function relationship is still not fully understood. The study aims to measure vitamin D serum levels and to investigate its relation with hypothyroidism in Iraq patients.This case-control study was carried out during the period from the first of March to the end of May 2023 in Baghdad City, Iraq. The study included 90 subjects that were divided into 2 groups. The first group consists of 60 people infected with hypothyroidism. The second group (control group) consists of 30 healthy people. Blood samples were assessed for serum vitamin D, TSH, T3 and T4 using a chemiluminescence microparticle immunoassay analyzer while serum anti-TPO used an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique.The study showed that the level of T3, T4 and vitamin D in hypothyroidism patients significantly decreased compared to the control group (p<0.001). While TSH and anti-TPO levels in hypothyroidism patients significantly increase in comparison to the control group (p<0.001). The study found a significant negative correlation between (vitamin D and T3) with (p<0.01), while the study showed a significant positive correlation between (TSH and vitamin D) with (p<0.01). Finally, the study demonstrated a non-significant weak negative correlation (p>0.05) between (vitamin D and T4), but a non-significant weak positive correlation (p>0.05) between (vitamin D and anti-TPO).Patients with hypothyroidism had noticeably low levels of vitamin D, indicating that this vitamin D may be involved in the aetiology of hypothyroidism.

Pleural fluid residue as a diagnostic tool for cytology-negative malignant pleural effusion: A proof-of-concept study.

Background: Pleural fluid residue, or macroscopic tissue, circulating freely in the pleural fluid obtained through direct filtration, may carry diagnostic histopathological information. We aimed to determine the histopathological concordance of pleural fluid residue in diagnosing TPE and MPE, compared with conventional pleural biopsy. This was a prospective cohort study of consecutive inpatients with cytology-negative exudative effusion who underwent pleuroscopy and had their initial suctioned pleural fluid filtered for residue samples. Pleural fluid residue demonstrated malignant cells in four out of seven cases of pleural biopsy-confirmed malignancy. Pleural fluid residue has comparable cytomorphology but reduced cellularity compared with pleural biopsy. No tuberculous histological features were present in the pleural fluid residue samples. In this preliminary study pleural fluid residue provided histopathological information for malignant pleural effusion, but no incremental diagnostic information for tuberculous effusion. However larger and more definitive studies are required to clarify these findings, and to explore the utility and suitability of pleural fluid residue for mutational analysis. What the study adds: This study demonstrates the potential of pleural fluid residue as a non-invasive diagnostic method for confirming malignancy in cytology-negative exudative effusion. What are the implications of the findings: In resource-limited settings or patients contraindicated for pleural biopsy, pleural fluid residue may provide a viable diagnostic alternative; however, this observation needs further validation.

Caloric restriction improves glycaemic control without reducing plasma branched-chain amino acids or keto-acids in obese men.

Higher plasma leucine, isoleucine and valine (BCAA) concentrations are associated with diabetes, obesity and insulin resistance (IR). Here, we evaluated the effects of 6-weeks very-low calorie diet (VLCD) upon fasting BCAA in overweight (OW) non-diabetic men, to explore associations between circulating BCAA and IR, before and after a weight loss intervention. Fasting plasma BCAAs were quantified in an OW (n = 26; BMI 32.4 ± 3 kg/m2; mean age 44 ± 9 y) and a normal-weight (NW) group (n = 26; BMI 24 ± 3.1 kg/m2; mean age 32 ± 12.3 y). Ten of the OW group (BMI 32.2 ± 4 kg/m2; 46 ± 8 y) then underwent 6-weeks of VLCD (600-800 kcal/day). Fasting plasma BCAA (gas chromatography-mass spectrometry), insulin sensitivity (HOMA-IR) and body-composition (DXA) were assessed before and after VLCD. Total BCAA were higher in OW individuals (sum leucine/isoleucine/valine: 457 ± 85 µM) compared to NW control individuals (365 ± 78 µM, p < 0.001). Despite significant weight loss (baseline 103.9 ± 12.3 to 93 ± 9.6 kg and BMI 32.2 ± 4 to 28.9 ± 3.6 kg/m2), no changes were observed in BCAAs after 6-weeks of VLCD. Moreover, although VLCD resulted in a significant reduction in HOMA-IR (baseline 1.19 ± 0.62 to 0.51 ± 0.21 post-VLCD; p < 0.001), Pearson's r revealed no relationships between BCAA and HOMA-IR, either before (leucine R2: 2.49e-005, p = 0.98; isoleucine R2: 1.211-e006, p = 0.9; valine R2: 0.004, p = 0.85) or after VLCD (leucine R2: 0.003, p = 0.86; isoleucine R2: 0.006, p = 0.82; valine R2: 0.002, p = 0.65). Plasma BCAA are higher in OW compared to NW individuals. However, while 6-weeks VLCD reduced body weight and IR in OW individuals, this was not associated with reductions in BCAA. This suggests that studies demonstrating links between BCAA and insulin resistance in OW individuals, are complex and are not normalised by simply losing weight.

The Discovery of Potential SARS-CoV-2 Natural Inhibitors among 4924 African Metabolites Targeting the Papain-like Protease: A Multi-Phase In Silico Approach.

Four compounds, hippacine, 4,2'-dihydroxy-4'-methoxychalcone, 2',5'-dihydroxy-4-methoxychalcone, and wighteone, were selected from 4924 African natural metabolites as potential inhibitors against SARS-CoV-2 papain-like protease (PLpro, PDB ID: 3E9S). A multi-phased in silico approach was employed to select the most similar metabolites to the co-crystallized ligand (TTT) of the PLpro through molecular fingerprints and structural similarity studies. Followingly, to examine the binding of the selected metabolites with the PLpro (molecular docking. Further, to confirm this binding through molecular dynamics simulations. Finally, in silico ADMET and toxicity studies were carried out to prefer the most convenient compounds and their drug-likeness. The obtained results could be a weapon in the battle against COVID-19 via more in vitro and in vivo studies.

Management of Latent Tuberculosis Infection in Saudi Arabia: Knowledge and Perceptions Among Healthcare Workers.

Background Tuberculosis (TB) continues to pose a serious threat to public health despite great efforts. For many years, management and screening for active TB cases have been the main focus of TB control programs. Latent TB is a stage where TB can be prevented and controlled. Therefore, designing a comprehensive TB control program that includes latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) management diseases is needed to be implemented among the healthcare workers (HCWs) who have been found to be at a higher risk for active TB compared to the general population. The objective of the study The objective of the study is to assess the knowledge and perceptions of LTBI among HCWs. In addition to estimating the prevalence of LTBI among HCWs using closed-end questions in a self-administered questionnaire. Subjects and methods Through a cross-sectional study and non-random sampling technique, 324 (84%) healthcare workers who met the inclusion criteria completed and submitted the electronic questionnaire. Results Among all participants, the study reported a good knowledge about LTBI; however, a third of HCWs had poor knowledge about the difference between LTBI and active TB. Eighteen percent of participants were diagnosed with LTBI, and two-thirds accepted the treatment. Of all participants who started the treatment, 55% completed the treatment course. The compliance rate was high among young HCWs and physicians who had a short course of LTB treatment regimen.  Conclusion The study reported a low acceptance and completion rate of LTBI therapy among HCWs. Low knowledge about some clinical facts of LTBI, the long duration of treatment, and being the treatment optional in Saudi health institutes were all barriers to accepting and completing the treatment of LTBI. All of these factors need to be addressed to increase the compliance rate to LTBI treatment.

Calculation of Attenuation Parameter for Ir-192 Gamma Source in Shielding Materials.

Purpose: Calculation of photon attenuation is necessary for the selection of shielding materials for an irradiation facility. Methods and Materials: In this work, a Monte Carlo simulation was utilized to assess the effectiveness of clay-polyethylene mixture and clay as the radiation shielding materials for high-energy gamma sources (Ir-192). Ordinary concrete was also studied as the benchmark. Results: The calculated linear attenuation values for ordinary concrete are within 0.44% of the standard XCOM value for 380 keV photon. In the case of a multienergy Ir-192 gamma source, the calculated linear attenuation coefficient (µ) for ordinary concrete is 15.5% and 7.25% higher than clay and fabricated clay-polyethylene, respectively. Meanwhile, the µ value for fabricated clay-polyethylene is 8.3% higher than that of clay. Conclusion: In conclusion, a 10 cm thickness of clay and clay-polyethylene mixture is sufficient to attenuate 87% and 89% of photons from Ir-192 source. The calculated linear attenuation coefficients for the three shielding materials are also consistently higher, about 7.5%, than that of the XCOM value for 380 keV photon.

Fully validated UPLC-MS/MS method for quantifying Favipiravir in human plasma boosted lean six sigma: An application for a bioequivalence study.

This research developed and validated a highly sensitive and selective UPLC-MS/MS approach using a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer for quantifying favipiravir. Moreover, we introduced a study evaluating bioequivalence using two drugs, Favibrivix and Avigan, containing favipiravir. Lean Six Sigma verified the capacity and performance of the process. Protein precipitation extraction was utilized to extract favipiravir from the collected human matrices. We used an Acquity UPLCr BEH HILIC column and valproic acid as an internal standard. Furthermore, we conducted the procedure using an isocratic elution comprising acetonitrile and 0.005% ammonia in water (75:25, v/v), a flow rate of 0.25 ml/min, a temperature controlled at 10°C and an injection volume of 1.0 µl. Our UPLC-MS/MS process has a broad range (50-10,000 ng/ml) with a determination coefficient of 0.9980. We validated the method in line with the US Food and Drug Administration. The findings revealed that the test, Favibrivix 200 mg/tablet, and the reference, Avigan® 200 mg/tablet, were statistically bioequivalent in healthy Egyptian participants.

Development and validation of a ultraperformance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method for quantifying free and total dabigatran in human plasma: An application for a bioequivalence study.

Dabigatran etexilate mesylate (DABE), a prodrug, quickly changes into dabigatran (DAB) after its oral administration. Accordingly, detecting DABE in plasma is practically unmanageable. An ultraperformance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) technique was developed and validated to compute free DAB in participants. For the first time, the central composite design, a type of response surface methodology, was applied for optimizing variables affecting the cleavage of glucuronide bond. In addition, the pharmacokinetic parameters of generic medication (okanadab) were determined, and the obtained outcomes were compared with those of the branded drug (pradaxa). The sample preparation was done using methanol as a protein precipitant and the separation was achieved using an ACQUITY UPLC BEH C18 column (2.1 × 50 mm, 1.7 µm). The elution was isocratically conducted using 10 mM ammonium formate:methanol (72:28, v/v) as a mobile phase and the flow rate was 0.25 mL/min. Multiple reaction monitoring and positive electrospray ionization were used. The determination was performed within 1 min, and the calibration growth curve was established over a range of 1.19-475 ng/mL using DAB-d3 as a tagged internal standard. Bioequivalence research was validated following the US Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) guidelines for bioanalytical procedures and acceptable outcomes were achieved. The outcomes for okanadab and pradaxa did not differ significantly.

Ligand and Structure-Based In Silico Determination of the Most Promising SARS-CoV-2 nsp16-nsp10 2'-o-Methyltransferase Complex Inhibitors among 3009 FDA Approved Drugs.

As a continuation of our earlier work against SARS-CoV-2, seven FDA-approved drugs were designated as the best SARS-CoV-2 nsp16-nsp10 2'-o-methyltransferase (2'OMTase) inhibitors through 3009 compounds. The in silico inhibitory potential of the examined compounds against SARS-CoV-2 nsp16-nsp10 2'-o-methyltransferase (PDB ID: (6W4H) was conducted through a multi-step screening approach. At the beginning, molecular fingerprints experiment with SAM (S-Adenosylmethionine), the co-crystallized ligand of the targeted enzyme, unveiled the resemblance of 147 drugs. Then, a structural similarity experiment recommended 26 compounds. Therefore, the 26 compounds were docked against 2'OMTase to reveal the potential inhibitory effect of seven promising compounds (Protirelin, (1187), Calcium folinate (1913), Raltegravir (1995), Regadenoson (2176), Ertapenem (2396), Methylergometrine (2532), and Thiamine pyrophosphate hydrochloride (2612)). Out of the docked ligands, Ertapenem (2396) showed an ideal binding mode like that of the co-crystallized ligand (SAM). It occupied all sub-pockets of the active site and bound the crucial amino acids. Accordingly, some MD simulation experiments (RMSD, RMSF, Rg, SASA, and H-bonding) have been conducted for the 2'OMTase-Ertapenem complex over 100 ns. The performed MD experiments verified the correct binding mode of Ertapenem against 2'OMTase exhibiting low energy and optimal dynamics. Finally, MM-PBSA studies indicated that Ertapenem bonded advantageously to the targeted protein with a free energy value of -43 KJ/mol. Furthermore, the binding free energy analysis revealed the essential amino acids of 2'OMTase that served positively to the binding. The achieved results bring hope to find a treatment for COVID-19 via in vitro and in vivo studies for the pointed compounds.

The fabrication of an innovative extremely sensitive nano green carbon paste electrode amended with the nanocomposite CuO/Y for electrochemical quantification of amprolium in sheep meat and liver samples.

In this work, carbon paste electrode (CPE) and modified CPE with copper oxide or copper yttrium oxide were prepared for determining amprolium hydrochloride (AMP) by differential pulse voltammetry. AMP has an antiprotozoal activity for treating coccidiosis in poultry; their retaining- in sheep meat and livers- induces adversative effects for the customer. XRD pattern was employed to define the fabricated nanostructured materials; the elemental composition of the nanocomposite was examined using EDX spectra. Over a pH ranging from 2 to 8, the oxidation process of AMP was studied using phosphate buffer. The scan rates were studied over a wide range (20 to 140 mV s-1) using cyclic voltammetry. The developed sensor shows a wide linear range (1.0 × 10-8-1.0 × 10-3 M) with a detection limit of 2.32 × 10-9 M. This method can quantify AMP in pharmaceutical form, sheep meat, and liver samples.

Computational design for eco-friendly visible spectrophotometric platform used for the assay of the antiviral agent in pharmaceutical dosage form.

Nowadays, the analytical community is focusing on developing new analytical methods that incorporate principles of green analytical chemistry to reduce adverse impacts on the environment and humans. In this study, we focused specifically on establishing a correlated connection between theoretical and experimental applications via developing green, and eco-friendly visible spectrophotometric methods. These methods were relied on charge-transfer complexation (CTC) between ledipasvir and 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-1,4-benzoquinone (DDQ), or chloranilic acid (CA) for sensitive colorimetric analysis of ledipasvir in the presence of sofosbuvir (Sofolanork plus®). The results were evaluated as modern computational chemistry using molecular modeling technology. At ambient temperature, the reactions for DDQ and CA took 15 and 10 min, respectively, to produce a purple red-colored solution with DDQ absorbing maximally at 588 nm and a purple-colored solution with CA absorbing maximally at 522 nm. Linearity was achieved for ledipasvir utilizing DDQ and CA in the concentration ranges of 8-80 µg.mL-1 and 40-400 µg.mL-1, respectively. The precision and accuracy of the methods mentioned were determined. Finally, the results were statistically compared to a previously published spectrophotometric technique, and no significant differences were found.

Determination of the Small-Field Output Factor for 6 MV Photon Beam Using EGSnrc Monte Carlo.

Accuracy of ionization chamber (IC) to measure the scatter output factor (Scp) of a linear accelerator (linac) is crucial, especially in small field (<4 cm × 4 cm). The common IC volume of 0.6 cc is not adequate for small-field measurement and not all radiotherapy centers can afford to purchase additional IC due to the additional cost. This study aimed to determine the efficiency of the EGSnrc Monte Carlo (MC) to calculate the Scp for various field sizes including small field in Elekta Synergy (Agility multileaf collimator) linac. The BEAMnrc and DOSXYZnrc user codes were used to simulate a 6 MV linac model for various field sizes and calculate the radiation dose output in water phantom. The modeled linac treatment head was validated by comparing the percentage depth dose (PDD), beam profile, and beam quality (Tissue Phantom Ratio (TPR)20,10) with the IC measurement. The validated linac model was simulated to calculate the Scp consisting of collimator scatter factor (Sc) and phantom scatter factor (Sp). The PDD and beam profile of the simulated field sizes were within a good agreement of ±2% compared with the measured data. The TPR20,10 value was 0.675 for field size 10 cm × 10 cm. The Scp, Sc, and Sp simulated values were close to the IC measurement within ±2% difference. The simulation for Sc and Sp in 3 cm × 3 cm field size was calculated to be 0.955 and 0.884, respectively. In conclusion, this study validated the efficiency of the MC simulation as a promising tool for the Scp calculation including small-field size for linac.

The economic dimension of directing treated wastewater to the production of green fodder in Saudi Arabia.

This study aimed to identify the economic dimension of directing treated wastewater to the production of green fodder. To achieve its objectives, the study relied on economic equations, the method of using multiple criteria, and a scoring technique for prioritization. The study showed that green fodder is a crop that depletes water, as it consumes about 67.27% of the water used for agricultural purposes. In determining the priority of regions intending to use treated wastewater, the ranking put Riyadh region first, followed by the eastern region, the Qassim region, Hail, Makkah Al-Mukarramah, Tabuk, Asir, Al-Jawf, Jizan, Madinah, Najran, the northern borders, and Al-Baha, in this order. The area that can be cultivated with forage crops is estimated to be about 53.05 thousand hectares, with a production of 953.75 thousand tons. The cost of treating wastewater to make it usable amounts to 2126.22 million riyals, while the value of the benefits gained from its use is 2508.95 million riyals; thus, the Saudi agricultural economy achieves a net gain estimated at about 382.73 million riyals annually. Therefore, this study recommends the use of treated wastewater in the production of green fodder.

Measuring the impact of water scarcity on agricultural economic development in Saudi Arabia.

This research measures the impact of water scarcity on agricultural economic development and economic development indicators in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during 1995-2018. By examining the current status of available water resources and their uses, and estimating a model to study the impact of water scarcity on agricultural economic development. The study relied on descriptive and standard economic analysis to estimate the proposed regression model. It found that a 10% change in the amount of water resources available leads to a 5.1% change in the same direction of the crop area. A 10% change in the estimated crop area results in a 1.5% change in the same direction of the total agricultural output value. A 10% change in employment and agricultural loans leads to a change in the same direction of the aggregate agricultural output value of 5.1% and 7.2%, respectively. A 10% change in the total value of the estimated agricultural output leads to a 2.9% change in the same direction of GDP. Thus, a lack of water resources will decrease the crop area and have a negative impact on the value of agricultural output, thereby impacting GDP. We therefore include policy recommendations for the conservation of water resources: The government should stop the export of virtual water, particularly for water-depleting products; an economic accounting framework for water should be introduced to monitor the amount of water in excess of the water codification for various crops prevailing in the crop composition.